Court gives MP Karungi 10 days to defend self in poison case

The High Court in Kampala has given Kanungu Woman Members of Parliament, Elizabeth Karungi only ten days to file her defence in a case she is accused of poisoning a parliamentary staff.

It is alleged that Karungi poisoned Donna Kamuli on mere suspicion that she was having a love affair with her husband but it later turned out that it was a case of mistaken identity.

In summons on Monday, Karungi who is the plaintiff has been asked to file a defence in the case or else the court could proceed with the case and judgment in her absence.

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“You are hereby required to file a defence seeking leave to appear and defend yourself in the said suit within 10 days from the date of service of the summons on you in the manner prescribed in the Civil Procedure Rules,” reads in part the summons issued by Joy Kabagye, the court assistant registrar.

“Should you fail to file a defence on or before the date mentioned, the plaintiff may proceed with the suit and judgment may be given in your absence.”

In a suit filed last week before the civil division of the High Court in Kampala, Kamuli alleged that the incident of poisoning happened on September 1 between 3pm and 4pm at Cafe Pap along Parliamentary Avenue.

According to court documents, the Kanungu legislator told Kamuli that there was a girl who was having a relationship with her husband and that she wanted to have the girl killed.

Kamuli claims that the MP instead poisoned her through water provided by the legislator.

“The poison could have been introduced into the water bottle through the bottle cap which was found spiked on investigation,” reads part of the court documents.

“Within 45 minutes of taking the water, the plaintiff developed gastric pain so intense like labour pains eventually intermittently lost consciousness, her body developed a rash, tingled and sweated.”

She was later admitted at Nakasero Hospital where it was discovered that she had been poisoned.

Later, the legislator called Kamuli and apologised saying she had discovered that her husband was instead having an affair with a one Sophie Nassuuna, a university student who resides at Muheki hostel in Kikoni.“The defendant(Kamuli) said ‘I have seen how you can kill somebody for nothing mistakenly’, ”in part of the court documents.

Kamuli later reported the matter to CPS in Kampala and that the police officer who recorded her complaint observed the spiked bottle and expressed worry.

Later, Kamuli’s condition worsened and according to the suit, she flown to Aga Khan hospital in Kenya before from where she was referred to South Africa for further treatment.

She is now demanding for compensation from the Kanungu Woman MP for the time and costs incurred in treatment she sought in Kenya and South Africa to dilute the poison.